The Magic of Convenience
“You’re going to Disney again?!”
I don’t know how many times I have heard those words from my family and friends! So many people want to know what draws me back to the same place over and over again. While there are many reasons that I repeatedly make my way to Walt Disney World year after year, I have discovered that a lot of it has to do with the different ways Disney strives to make your vacation a stress-free experience.
In a world of overflowing schedules and never-ending to-do lists, most of us are constantly on the hunt for anything that can streamline and simplify our days. Trips to Walt Disney World can take a lot of planning, so Disney has done their best to make the guest experience as magical as they can. Today let’s take a look at 4 ways Disney strives to make trips to “the world” as convenient as possible!
- Disney Technology – My Disney Experience and Magic Bands
With the launch of the My Disney Experience system, Disney created a central hub where their guests could work on their plans for upcoming trips. Within their accounts, guests can link and keep track of hotel reservations, make advance dining reservations, check out park hours, and more! You can also connect your account to your friends and family members, which is very helpful, especially for guests traveling with a larger group. It’s an easy way to keep tabs on your daily itinerary, and puts park maps and attraction wait times in the palm of your hand. The days of calling separate hotlines or pounding the payment in circles when lost are over as you’ve got help right at your fingertips!
I don’t know about you, but my purse is a bulky, unorganized, cumbersome mess! It’s always overflowing with old receipts and cards, and certainly isn’t something I want to carry around if I don’t need to.
Thankfully, Disney has come to the rescue! When staying at a Walt Disney World resort, each guest on your reservation is eligible for a complimentary Magic Band, which acts not only as your room key, but also connects to your park tickets, and can be used for charging purchases. With just a quick tap of your Magic Band, the whole “world” is at your feet. Having less to carry around is always convenient!
- Complimentary Transportation
Instead of worrying about a pricey taxi trip or renting a car for your visit, did you know that Disney offers you a complimentary ride to the front door of your resort? You can sit back and relax in the plush comfort of Disney’s Magical Express air-conditioned motor coaches, while charming Disney cartoons and trivia play on the internal screens for everyone to enjoy.
Not only will Disney transport you from the Orlando International Airport to your resort, but they can also handle your luggage! Guests from North America using Magical Express transportation service can affix special tags to their luggage, and Disney will both retrieve your bags for you, and bring them to your resort room for you! No longer do you need to rush to the luggage carousel, only to battle the crowds and wait for ages to try and snap up your bags!
Once you’re ready to head to the parks for some fun, Disney has still got your transportation covered!
One of the last things I want to do on vacation is navigating traffic, but with boats, busses, monorails, and now the Skyliner gondolas, Disney has made it easy and convenient to reach your destination, allowing you to focus on the magic while someone else keeps their eyes on the route ahead!
- Helpful Cast Members
Well-known for their customer service, Disney Cast Members often go to “infinity and beyond” for their guests! It can be as simple as hearing “have a magical day,” offering special assistance or perhaps going the extra mile to fulfill your room vicinity request. In all of my visits to WDW, I have seen so many examples of the pride and care that Disney’s Cast Members take in their job, and I often think about how big of a role they play in our vacation memories.
For example, on my first solo trip, I made a reservation for my favorite character meal, which is breakfast at Animal Kingdom’s Tusker House. As the trip approached, I will admit that I was a little nervous about going to a character meal as a lone adult. Those apprehensions flew right out the window once I arrived, however, as my server was one of the kindest Cast Members I have ever come across! She did everything she could to put me at ease and ensure I had a magical meal!
She offered to switch my table location, so I was in a quieter spot, made lovely conversation, and even helped to take photos for me as the characters made their rounds. These may seem like simple gestures, but I truly felt like a treasured guest that day, and she kept things running smoothly for the tables around me as well.
If you have any questions about your resort, park hours and events, or are looking for a last-minute dining reservation, you can visit the Lobby Concierge desk at your resort!
The Cast Members there are also happy to help you maintain that “Hakuna Matata” outlook, and will do their best to make your vacation dreams come true! Childcare arrangements, transportation information, and even assistance with tickets are just steps away from your room!
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- Bell Services and Resort Airline Check-in
Of course, we all wish our vacations would never come to a close, however when the time comes to head home, Disney wants to make the transition back to reality as smooth and easy as they can for you.
If you’ve got some extra time to enjoy between your check out time and your flight, Bell Services is ready to help! The Cast Members will gladly store your luggage in a safe and secure location until you’re ready to head home. You can bring your bags down to the lobby, or you can give them a call from your room, and a Cast Member will gladly come and pick them up from you.
Another fantastically convenient service that Disney offers is Resort Airline Check-in for guests who are traveling with select airlines. This service is complimentary and allows you to check your bags, collect your boarding passes, and check-in for your return flight. From the hours of 5am to 12pm EST, all you need to do is arrive at the Airline Check-in desk at your resort no later than 3 hours prior to your scheduled flight time with your luggage, flight information, and government-issued ID.
This is a great service to take advantage of, so be sure to ask a Cast Member for more information or check Disney’s website to see if you’re airline is included.
Just as they did when you arrived for your stay in the Florida sun, Disney will gladly take care of your airport transportation once more. The Magical Express motor coach can also be arranged for service back to the Orlando airport, and though it may be time to say “see ya real soon,” I like to use those final moments of relaxation to start planning my next trip!
It’s no wonder Walt Disney World is called the most magical place on earth! Where else do pixie dust, worlds of fantasy and top-notch modern conveniences converge so perfectly? It’s all these reasons and more that will forever keep me longing to hear the words “Welcome Home” as often as possible!
~Stacy
